"We should be quick, Mom," Zinnia said, though she wasn't sure if it was a promise she could keep. She could already feel the weight of the hospital walls closing in on her, the sterile air making her anxious. "I just want to make sure I'm here if he wakes up. I want to be here for him."
Elena offered her a small, reassuring smile. "I understand, sweetheart. Let's go, and we'll be back before dark. That way, we won't be away for too long."
Zinnia grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she led the way toward the exit. The hallway felt quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the hospital staff no longer as overwhelming as it had been earlier in the day.
As they walked through the lobby and out into the cool evening air, Zinnia took a deep breath, feeling the tension in her body ease just slightly. The thought of getting away from the hospital for a little while was comforting, even if she couldn't shake the constant worry gnawing at her mind.
